Machinery for forming and fastening boxes and dishes



3 Sheets-Sheet 1` Patented Feb. 21,1882.

L. CARPENTER.

MACHINERY FOR FORMING AND FASTBNING BOXES AND DISHES.

(No Model.)

7472' 71 asses: MW M6( (No Model.) 3 sheets-shea; 2.

L. CARPENTER,

MACHINERY FOR FORMING AND FASTENING BOXES AND DISHES-f? No. 253,839. Patented-Feb. 21,1882.

SJ m 6 WM MM W (No Model.) 3 Sheets-.Sheet 3.

L. CARPENTER.

MACHINERY PoR PORMING AND PASTBNING BOXES AND DISHNS.

YUNiTED STATES 4PATENT Y e OFFICE.

LAUEEN CARPENTER, or sir. .iosEPH, MICHIGAN.

MACHINERY FOR FoMlNe AND FASTENING Boxes AND DISHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of lLetters Patent No. 253,839, dated February 21, 1882.

Application filed November 1,1881. (No model.) i

' view of the upper part of the machine; Fig. 3,

an end view, with the lower part of the baseframe broken off; Figs. 4 and 5, rear and end views of the wire-feeding devices detached; Fig. 6, plan view of the staple forming and driving devices, one side broken oii'; Fig. 7, a vertical section, showing the edges of the staple forming and driving devices; Figs.- S and 9, details of the ends of thev staple forming and driving hammers or plates; Fig. 10, a crosssection of the staple forming and driving plates or hammers; Fig. 11, a modification, showing the disks or wheels for operating the staple devices by power or continuously in one direction; Fig. 12, the staple; Fig. 13, an end view of the former; Fig. 14, a cross-section of the clinch-block on line 3 of Fig. 13.

The object of this invention is to produce an improved machine for forming and fastening dish-shaped articles or boxes madeof veneer or other thin material, said machine to be operated either by power or hand.

' The nature of my invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices and parts hereinafter described and claimed as new.

In the drawings, A A' indicate the base frame, A representing the uprights, and A' the braces; B, uprights or posts attached to the frameA; C, cross-timbers supporting the fastening devices; D D',`crosstimbers; E, wirespools; F, handwheel; F', stoppin or arm; Gr, dish-former; H I, cross bars or timbers supporting the springs; J K, treadles; L L', stopblock for the handwheel; M, spring; NN', Wheels or disks for operating the staple for the forming and driving devices; a, secondary frame supporting the wire-feeding devices; b, cross-bar by which the frame a is attached to the main frame; c d, feed-wheels; c', weighted cords or wires; e, arms for operating the feedwheels; e', ratchet-wheel; f, connecting-rods -upper and two lower ones.

for operating the arms e; g, the front projec-l tion on the treadle-bar h; l1the treadle-bar; i, the rods or bars supporting the former GW", cross bar or block; j, spring; k, pivot-bar for holding up or supporting the former whilst-he staples are being driven; l, rod connecting the pivot-bar 7c to the treadle K; m, the spring; u o, rods or p itman for operating the devices for forming and driving the staples; fn' o', coupling-ears; p, casing or support for the staple forming and driving devices; q r, slide or hammer for cutting and forming the wire into staples; s, the staple-former; s', notches in the former for turning the ends of the wire to form the staple; t t', depression and corresponding projection for forming the middle bend ofthe staple; u, plate or hammer for driving the `staples; u', holes through which the wire is fed; w, clinch-plates on the ends of the former; w, guides; y, set-screws; z, rubber or other springs for adjusting the pressure of the wire-feedin g devices. Y

As shown, the base-frame is made of uprights A and inclined or bracing side posts, A', which construction gives a strong supporting-frame; but it may be made in any other desired form and made of any suitable material, the one shown being made of wood. At the upper ends of the uprights A two similarly-formed plates or cross-timbers, C, are attached, as shown in Fig. 3, and on the front side upright bars B are attached, and they are connected together at the top with a plate or timber, D', upon which the wire-spools E arc mounted. L In front of theihead C the wire-feeding devices are attached byaV-shaped frame, c. This frame is provided with four feed-rollers', two The upper ones, c, are provided on their fronts with pawls or dogs, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft upon which they are mounted is provided'with la ratchet-wheel, e', the teeth of which are spaced, so that the movement given to the feed-wheel by each ratchet-tooth feeds the proper length of wire to'form a staple. The ratchet-wheel is loose upon the shaft, and is provided with a collar, to ,which the arm e is attached,and .the ratchet is operated and the feed-wheels moved by the arms e, which are attached by meansof the rods j and projection g of the rod or shaft IOO h, as shown in Fig. 1, and they are operated by the treadle J and the spring j. The spring is of sufficient strength to raise the od and treadle, which movement elevates the inner end of the arms e and turns the ratchet-wheels c' the distance of one notch, so as to make a new engagement with the clicks or pawls upon the faces of the wheels c. When the treadle is depressed the inner ends of the arms e are forced down, turning the wheels c, and by their frictional contact the wheels d, and causing the wire to advance. The wires cross each other, as shown, so as to give the feed the proper direction by this movement.

In order to adjust the pressure for producing the feedin gof the wire, I place weights over the wheels c,- or the weight may be placed upon the collar of ratchet-wheel e', or upon the shaft, by cords or wires c', as shown in Fig. 4, asutiicient weight being attached toinsure the feeding; or the friction between the wheels c (l may be adjusted by the set-screwsg/ and rubber or other springs, e, as shown in Fig. l; but I prefer the weight to the adjusting-spring, a-s unskillful laborers are liable to adjust them overtight when using set-screws.

The staple forming and driving devices are located between the plates orbars G,as shown at Fig. 6, and their supports or casings p are located at an incline, as shown in Fig. 7 so as to bring them at about right angles with the end of the former, against which the drivin ghammers operate, and as thc two are alike the description of the construction of one will answer for both.

rlhe casingp is provided at its bottom interiorly with a groove which the driving-hammer ts and fills. Over this driving-hammer is placed the forminghammer q and former s, the different widths being shown at Fig. 10. The former s is permanently attached to the casing, and is provided with notches s', in

.which the staple ends are formed, and they are undercut, so that the ends of the staples will stand slightly inclined toward each other. It is also provided with the depression t, for bending the middle of the staple downward, as shown. The forming hammer or slide q has at its middle a projection, t', fitting into the depression t, and its sides at the forward end are provided with projections i', which pass down into the notches or openings s. These projections are grooved, as shown at Fig. 8, so as to take up the free end of the wire and center it, and on the side where the feed occurs the projection i' also acts as a cutter, or apartof the cutter, as the casingp, where the wire enters the interior, is provided with a steel die or plate, by which the wire passes, and by or against which it is cut off.

In operation, as the forming-hammer descends it picks up the free end of the wire, carries it down to a line with the former, at which point the wire is severed and its two ends carried down into the openings s over the sharp angles of the former in forming them,

and as they are free to pass into the under-cut they are bent a little past the right angle, at the same time the middle is bent down at t, and by bending the middle, as shown, when the hammer is retracted this bend springs back slightly, so as to loosen the staple atthe ends, and also along its length, which action leaves it free to fall away from the former. While this operation is taking place the driving-hammer has been under the staple-former, as shown in Fig. 7. When the staple is formed by the action of the wheels or disks N, the rods u 0 retract the forming-hammers, when the staple falls just in front of the driving-ham mer to the bottom of the casing p, with its turned ends forward, and slides down against the box or dish blank, which has been brought by the dish or box former up into a position to receive the staples, where they remain until the driving -hammer descends and drives them through the blank, and fastens them firmly against the box or dish former. By this arrangementfor forming and driving the staples I avoid the use of all or any devices for holdingthe staple between its formation and its driving, which greatly simplifies the const-ruction and operation of the machine.

The staple devices are operated by a handwhcel, F, which is attached to'the same shaft as the wheels NN. The hand\vheel is given a reciprocating movement, the movement in one direction forming the staples, and the opposite direction driving them.

The frame C is provided with a stop, L, having an elastic cushion, L', against which the limit-pin F comes. The stop acts in the direction of retractin g the driving devices, thc dish and its former forming the stop in the opposite direction, the machine being free to continue the movement of the driving-hammers until they are brought in contact with the dish or box on the former, and as the position of the dish or box former is liable to vary somewhat, I avoid any projection of the driving-hammers by means of the spring M, the outwardly-turned point of which comes in contact with one of the arms or spokes of the hand-wheel and throws it back slightly, so as to insure the clearing of the driving-hannners from the space to be occupied by the dish or box former. When the machine is to be moved continuously in one direction, either by power or hand, the stop L and the spring M are to be omitted, and the hand-wheel, which then becomes either a hand-wheel or a balance-wheel and pulley, may be reduced in diameter, so as to require less movement of the hand, as in that event it would require a full turn, which makes a long movement i or the hand, unless the size is reduced.

In feeding in the blanks, which have been previously properly slit and scored, so as to have three parts at each end, the operator bends down the middle end pieces and slides the blank over the former until it strikes the guides w. The foot is then removed from the IOC) treadle J, and the spring j elevates the former with the blank. rIhe sides of the dish-blank, as it nears the Vtop of the cut-out portion ofthe cross-timbers C, come in contact with the springs or side arms, a', and the side ends or l corners comepin contact with the inclined folding and forming springs or wires b', which brings the blank down so as to closely fold and fit over the former G, and into a position where the side parts of the ends overlap the middle part, previously bent down by the operator. It is not essential that the operator bend down the middle portions of the ends, as ordinarily they will come into place without this, and additional springs or wires operating slightly in advance 'of the others may be used for that purpose. When in this position the ends are ready for fastening. The forming-springs a b are located between the timbers C C, and are shown for one side at Fig. 7

In order to prevent the blows of the drivinghammers from driving the dish-former down, the treadle K is operated, which brings the bar 7c under the cross-head i', or a projection therefrom, which movement gives the dishformer afrm position for thedrivingand clinching of the staples; but if it is not desired to use two treadles a weight and cord, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, maybe used in place of the bark and its attachment with the treadle K, the object and purpose of either device being to prevent the dish-former from settling on the spring when the blows are given. The rods c' are firmly attached to the rod h bythe cross-head t", which cross-head may be adj ustably attached by means of screwnuts on the shaft h or otherwise.

It will be seen that when the dish-former G is elevated the rods f also carry up the arms e,

' so as to engage the ratchet and put the wheels cin position for feeding in the wire, and as the dish-former comes down the wire is fed in, and themovements are so timed by means of the hand-wheels and treadles that they follow each other in proper succession without confusion, thus producing rapidly butter or other dishes or boxes made from thin veneer or other suitable material.

The staples are clinched by being driven against solid plates of metal firmly attached to the ends of the dish-former, as shown in Fig. 13. These plates are slightly longer than the staples, and are grooved out, as shown at Fie. 14. This groove is about one-eighth of an inch in depth at its lowest part, and by this grooving the staple is nearly driven before its ends come in contact with the clinching-plate, which prevents the staples from kinking on the outside, and as the driving-hammers have sufficient force to cause the dish to follow down into the grooving of the clinching-plates there is no kinking of the staples on the inside and proper clinchings are uniformly made, and as in forming-the staples the ends are inclined inward, this incline causes them to project toward'each other in clinching, so that 'a simple groove to keep them in line is all that is required forclinching them, whereby, as shown,

placed by the eccentrics, as shown in Fig. 11,

which are provided with encircling bands for operating the rods n o. These eccentrics and their bands may be arranged so as to be operated by two or by four eccentric wheels, or a double crank may be given to the shaft, t'o take the place of either the disks or the eccentrics, and suitable connections will be added for making the moving parts operate in their respective periods of time. By this arrangement I produce a simple and effective machine for the purpose desired 5 and its construction andoperation are such that it is not easily damaged, or so complicated in its movements but that it may be operated by unskilled laborers.

In order to prevent the staples from getting under the driving-hammer its lower or inner end is provided with a slight groove, as shown at Fig. 9, and as the middle bend of the staples holds them against the dish at that point, the middle portion of the hammer may recede, so that the sides thereof only act in driving.

In feeding the wire, and when the feedwheels are, as shown, at an angle with' the 10cpassage into the staple-former, it will be advisable to provide guide-tubes for the turn, as shown at fu', Fig. l. Y l

It is evident that the dish-former maybe made entirely of metal, and when so made ro 5 guide-grooves may be made therein for the staple ends, or they may be cast with cavities, so that separate plates may be used, as when the former is made of wood.

What I claim as new, and desirel to secure 11o by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for forming and fastening boxes, dishes, &c., the combination of the feed-wheels c d with the ratchet e', arms e, rods j", and rod or shaft, substantially as specir 15 ed.

2. The combination, with the dish-former, of the supporting-rods i, and suitable mechanism, suchV as described, for holding the said former in its elevated position, substantially as 1 2o set forth.

3. The staple-former s, having the notches or openings s aud the depression t, in combination with the hammer or plate q, having the projections 1 and t', substantially as and for 12 5 the purpose setv forth.

4. The driving hammer or plate u, in combination with the forming-hammer q and staple-former s, substantially as specified.

5. rIhe combination of the staple-former a 13o and hammers or plates q u with the rods u o and disks or eccentrics NN', substantially as described.

6. The combination ofthe rods h c' and dishformer G with the springj and treadle J, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the feedwhecls o cl with the staple-former s and hammer or plate g, all constructed and operating substantially as specified.

8. The combination of the feed-Wheels c d, having an intermittent movement, with the staple-formers and cutting-hammer g, substantially as described.

9. The combination and arrangement of the feeding devices c d, staple-former s, hammers q u, and easings or boxes p, with the dishformer G, having the grooved clinch-plates w, all constructed and operating substantially as specified.

10. The folding and forming springs a a. and b b, in combination with the dish-former G, so arranged as to fold the blank on the former as it is pressed upward to receive the staples, substantially as described.

LAUREN CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

MYRoN H. RUssELL, A. PLUMMER. 

